On Oct. 29 and Oct. 30, the Pinky Swear PACK Club intended to hold a Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Wishlist Drive on the Sacred Heart 63’s Patio, but the event was cancelled due to inclement weather. The event will be rescheduled in the coming weeks.
PACK stands for “Pinky Swear Ambassadors on Campus for Kids with Cancer,” according to the Club Relations Chair, senior Caitlin Beranger.
The Pinky Swear PACK Club is a part of the Pinky Swear Foundation’s campus program, which previously operated as the Love Your Melon campus crew. The Love Your Melon campus crew program disbanded across the nation due to the impact of COVID-19.
“The student leaders collaborated together to find a way to continue to spread awareness about pediatric cancer and joined the Pinky Swear Foundation,” said Club Advisor Amanda Wagner. “The Pinky Swear Foundation started Pinky Swear PACK this year nationwide to help spread the awareness of pediatric cancer throughout colleges and universities. The PACK at SHU consists of an executive board and a campus PACK.”
The Ronald McDonald House Charities, with which the PACK club is partnering, is a nonprofit organization that works to support the overall health and well-being of children and their families.
“The two houses we work closely with are located in Springfield, Mass. and New Haven, Conn.,” said Club President, senior Lindsey McCarthy. “Each house has a special place in our hearts, as in previous years, we would volunteer there to make dinners, cookies or crafts with the kids.”
These houses are often located near hospitals so families that have children in cancer wings of the hospital have a place to rest between visits.
“The Ronald McDonald House has a special place in my heart because my cousin had to have cancer treatment in New York when he was younger, and staying at the Ronald McDonald House was such a saving grace for his family,” said Beranger. “Not having to worry about housing in an unfamiliar place is such a relief and allows the family to really focus on their child.”
The goal of the event is to raise awareness and support the Ronald McDonald House Charities by supplying them with items they would need for the house.
“They supply clubs with a Wishlist of items they are currently in need of, such as household or pantry items,” said McCarthy. “Our goal is to gather as many donations as possible to help support them.”
Pinky Swear PACK will be raising money for the Ronald McDonald House. In addition to accepting monetary donations, they will also accept basic pantry or household items.
“The house hosts families who live far away from the hospital or cannot afford the constant transportation back and forth,” said McCarthy. “The donated items will be used throughout any families currently staying at the home so they will not have to worry about how they will have their next meal or money to purchase items while their child is in the hospital.”
Throughout the years, this organization has held swab drives, volunteered and worked with the Ronald McDonald House Charities houses and children’s hospitals, ran fundraisers and hosted many more events to help raise awareness for children with pediatric cancer.
“The impact we have had the opportunity to make in the lives of children and their families has been incredible. For this particular event, the items and monetary donations will truly help the lives of others. This club has been a huge component of my college career, and I can’t wait to see what we are able to do next,” said McCarthy.
